Artificial-limb ankle joint



June 24, 1930. 1 H. BARGHAUSEN 1,767,868

`ARTIFICIL' LIMB ANKLE JOINT Filed June 25, 1929 2 sheets-sheet 1 M :0.2 AT RNEY H l HHHHH w- Orl..

Humm

June 24, 1930.

y 1 H. BARGHAUSEN ARTIFICIAL LIMB ANKLE JOINT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 215l 1929 :NvENToR Zouzllfarykauem.

AT RNEY Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES LOUIS H. BARGHASEN, OF PITTSBURGH, `PZENN'SYL'V'AI'IA ARTIFICIAL-LIMB ANE'JE JOINT Application ld June 25,

. The invention generally relates to the art of manufacturing artificial limbs and primarily has for. its object to provide a novel ankle joint structure which is simple in con- 5 struction and capable of being manufactured economically and in which means is provided for cushioning the walking action in a manner eliminating lost motion and enabling a wearer to walk with ease and grace and with a feeling of safety and comfort.

In the manufacture of artificial legs, especially those of the type exemplified in the patent to Hanger, No. 1,151,520, issuedr August 24, 1915, it is customary to join associated foot and lower leg sections by angle joints which permit movement of the foot relatively to the lower leg section about a horizontal transverse axis so that the artificial foot may simulate asvnearly as is possible the natural movements of the human foot occasioned in walking. Resilient shockv absorbers are interposed between the lower limb and foot sections anteriorly and post'eriorly of the joint axis to cushion the walking movements, but devices thus far produced are single unit single resistance elements andedo not provide for full shock absorption or flexure resistance and areopen to improvement as pointed uit herein. In these constructions each time a forward or progressive step is taken the rear element absorbs the shock and yieldably resists the upward movement of the heel occasioned by contact with theground, and this upward movement of the heel is attended by a downward movement of the toe which relieves all stored up tension or resiliency in the forward element andprovides a free space or lost motion at this point which must betaken up during movement toward forward transfer of lweight causing an audible' slap or thud which is troublesomely perceptible to thewearer and occasions an unsafe and uncomfortable feelingin addition to hindering the practice of natural walking.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel composite front element .which contacts with the lower limb and foot sections at all times and is capable of imparting resistance to movement of the 1929. Serial No. 373,565.

said sections toward each other Iin advance of the rocking axis in varying degrees to eliminate lost motion and facilitate natural walking.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel standardized ankle joint plate which is interposed between the sections at the joint and secured to one thereof in al lnovel manner enabling adjustment of the 4 foot section'relatively tothe other section when desired, and which engages and is en-v gaged by the resilient shock absorbing elements, facilitates assembly of the joint and f provides for a practical reduction in weight v of the limb.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means to secure the axis rod or sleeve to the lower limb and foot sections in a manner assuring security in use and greatly facilitating assembly and disassembly of the elements constituting the joint. Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid Aobjects and. ends, the invention still further resides. in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which j will be first fully described in the following detailed description, then be particularly pointed .out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a vertical section taken through the longitudinal center of the` foot and transversely through the ankle joint, the parts being shown in the at rest, no nwalking position. i

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1,l the heel being shown contacting with the ground as in making a progressive or forward step.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 2, the weight being transferred to the ball of the foot.

Figure t is a vertical cross section taken through the axis of the ankle joint.

Figures 5 and 6 are top land bottom perspective views of the joint plate.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the axis rod or sleeve and the securing eyes.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a foot section removed from the lower limb sec.-

tion.

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of the front cushioning element.

In the drawings in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all of the figures, 1 'designates the lower limb section of an artificial leg, the same being hollowed out as at 2 after the common practice, and cut 0H straight across at its lower extremity as at 3. The straight cut face is provided` with tering boss 7 to snugly t the recess 4 of the A associated limb section. Each plate'is also cored out as at 8 to further reduce its weight and'includes a forwardly and downwardly extended presser toe or instep lever 9, front and rear lcushion element receiving recesses 10 and 11 respectively, atransverse ankle axisrod or tube seat 12, a central arcuate grooveway or seat 13 and eye seats 14 one disposed at each side of the grooveway 13. After proper positioning adjust-A ment facilitated by the boss and recess equipment 7, 4, the plate 6 is secured to position by screws 15.

The foot section of the limb is generally designated 16, is cored out as at 17, and includes the usual yieldable toe equipment 18 and heel cushion-19. This section also includes the posteriorly arranged cushion ele? ment receiving socket 20 which is `in the nature of a vertical bore, and a somewhat square anteriorly arranged vertical socket 21 having an arcuate vertical extension 22 toward the rear and being adapted to receiveA the front composite cushion element.

The foot section also includes a transverse skin lined or bushed ankle axis rod or tube receiving seat 23, two lateral eye seats 24, av

. bottom recess 25 vand two holes or bores 26 which pass through the section between the eye seats and enter the recess 25. A

In the formation of the ankle joint proper I provide an axis member preferably in the nature of a simple metal tube 27 which seats in the foot section seat 23 and in the ankle joint plate seat 12, being secured in the latter by two bolts A28 each of which carries an eye 29 to snugly but slidably receive said tube and which pass through the receiving holes in said joint plate and the lower limb section into the hollow of the lower limb section. The foot section is rockably secured to the lower limb section and the tube 27 thus carried thereby by a U-bolt or, clip 30 the legs of which pass down through thev foot section holes into the recess 25. The cli 30 and the bolts'28 are removably secure to position by the nuts 31. v

This manner of mounting the foot section and'forming the ankle joint obviates the necessity of employing a complicated specially turned and machined axis bolt, and in addition to thus reducing the cost of manu*- facture of the joint, greatly facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the joint.

Thel rear cushion element, interposed between. the foot section and the joint plate in the receiving socket 20, is in the nature of a cylindrical rubber block '32 of such length thatits upper end is constantly in engagement with the jointplate regardless of the position of the foot section at any given time.

The front cushion element is preferably compositely formed of' two rubber blocks joined to form a unitary structure, one portion being harder or less resilient than the other. However, it is to be understood that an element formed of a single resilientA substance may be employed if desired, as well as two distinct cushioning elements arranged to accomplish the purposes pointed out. In this disclosure I have shown the front element as comprising an advance somewhat square wedge shaped main body 33 of rubber and an upstanding somewhat cylindrical extension 34 likewise of rubber but softer and more resilient than the portion 33. The

main body 33 seats in the foot socket 21 with. the portion 34 extending into the socket or seat portion 22.

The main body 33 of the front cushion element comesinto function during a part only of the walking act but the portion 34 is in contact with the joint plate constantly.

In figure 1 of the drawings I have illustrated the normal non-walking or inactive position of the parts in which the cushioning l elements 32 and 34 are in cushioning Contact with the ankle joint plate, the presser toe or instep lever 9 being out of contact with the front element body 33.

The start of a progressive step in walking `is indicated in Figure 2 of the drawingsin which the heel is shown as supporting the main portion of the weight, before transfer onto :the ball of the foot. At this'time the rear element 32 is absorbing the whole of the shock or cushioning all of the step weight, however, no lost motion is permitted in the ankle joint since the front element portion 34 follows themovement and remains in Contact to cushion the start of movement in further progression of the step. Thus at the point in the step Where lost motion has heretofore been occasioned, causing an audible shock in the'joint and a feeling of uncertainty, lack of perfect control and balance and discomfiture on the part of the walker, the element portion 34 assures against lost motion and gradually takes up the shock of or cushions the movement of the parts in the transferring of the weight onto the ball of the foot until its work is gradually transferred to the main body 33 which becomes active during the nal portion only of the step as shown in Figure 3. Y

Wearing limbs equipped with the ankle joint herein disclosed it' is possible for persons unfortunate enough to have to use artificial limbs to walk with greater ease, comfort'and assurance, and more naturally, than has heretofore been possible.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it is thought that the novel ldetails of con` struction, the manner ofA use and the advantages of the .invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. f

What I claim is:

1. In an articial limb ankle joint, foot and limb sections movable relatively during walking, cusliionin means including a composite cushioning e ementcomposed of two progressively effective resilient bodies, one beingin constant contact with the limb section and adapted to impose constant relatively slight resistance to the walking action, the other being brought into'contact with the limb section to cushion the linal portion only of a progressive walking step, the resiliency of the two bodies being so related that the resistance set up by the constantly effective body gradually increases during a progressive walking step until it substantially equals the resistance of which the other body is,cap able at the time said other body becomes effective.

2. In an artificial limb the combination with the lower limb section, the foot section and the ankle joint cross bolt by which thesections are secured together for relative movement in simulation ofnatural walking,

' of front and rear cushioning elements interanteriorly 5o posed between the limb and foot sections said front element being compositely formed of a main resilient rubber body in constant contact with the limb section and an auxiliary body brought into` contact with the limb section ofless resilient rubber and arranged to cushion the final portiononly of a. progressive walking step,'said'ma1n and auxiliary rubber bodies being related in resiliency whereby the resiliency of the for mer will substantially equal that ofthe latter at the time the latter becomes eective.

3. A cushioning element adapted for use in artificial limbs comprising a main wedge shaped body of resilient4 rubber and an auxbody extension ofresilient rubber of softer'and less resistant quality.

and posteriorly of the cross bolt,

4. In 'an artilicial limb wherein is Nprovided a lower limb section and a foot sec' an ankle joint plate secured to one section, said one section having therein a receiving recess, said plate having a positioning boss snugly fitting within the recess to permit adjustment of the plate relatively to the sections to which it is secured, and Ameans to secure the sections together to form an ankle joint.

5. In an articial limb wherein is provided a lowerl limb section and a foot section, an ankle joint plate secured to one section, said one section having therein a receiving recess, said plate having a positioning boss snugly ittin within the recess vto ermit adjustment'o the plate relatively to t e section,

tion to whichit is secured, andmeans secured to the lower limb sectionl and ankle joint plate and to the foot section to secure the plate in position and the sections together to form an ankle joint.

.6. In an artificial limb wherein is pro- `vided a lower limb section and a foot section,.a fiat ankle joint plate abutting the end of the lower limb section and having an edge contour forming a continuation of said lower limb section and a forwardly and downwardly extended'cushion element the ankle joint.

7. An ankle joint plate for use in articial limbs including lower limb and foot sections, joint forming cross bolts and resilient cushioning elements; said plate comprising a fiat-body adapted to be secured to a lower limb section, engage in a recess formed in the limb section to permit adjustment of the plate relatively to the section to which it is secured, a cross `recess to partially receive a cross bolt, a forwardly and downwardly extended resilient element enga ing toe, said plate also having bolt dating apertures and Arecesses extending through and partially into said boss, and resilient element receiving recesses positioned anteriorly and cross bolt receiving recess.

8. In an artificial limb wherein is provided a lower limb section and a foot section and cushioning elements in the foot section an ankle joint lplate comprising a flat body ladapted to be secured to the lower limb section and disposed for engaging the a centeringV boss to posteriorly of the cushioning elements in the foot section, a recess in the lower limb section, a centering boss projecting from the .plate and snugly fitting the limb section recess to permit adjustment of the plate relatively lto the section to which it is secured, said plate also having a cross recess to partially receive a cross bolt, bolt apertures and receiving recesses passing through land partially proj ected into the boss respectively, a cross bolt seated in the cross recess, spaced eye bolts passed through the apertures and seating in the receiving recesses and adapted tol snugly but removablyl receive the cross'bolt for securing it and assisting in securing the plate to position on the limb section, and a U-bolt to secure the foot section to the cross bolt for ankle-joint movement about its axis.

9. In an artificial limb wherein is provided a lower limb section and a foot section, a flat ankle joint plate abutting the end of the lower limb section and having an edge contour forming a continuation of said lower limb section and a forwardly and downwardly extended cushion element engaging toe, said lower limb section having therein a receivingrecess, said ankle joint plate having a positioning boss snugly fitting within therecess to ermit adjustment of the plate relatively to t e lower limb sec-A tion, means to secure the limb sections together to form an ankle joint, and front and rear cushionin elements interposed between v the plate-and t e foot section anteriorly and posteriorly of the ankle joint to cushion the walking action movements of the ankle joint, said ankle joint plate having recesses therein to form seats for the front and rear elements, the said toe being disposed to engage a portion of said 'front element.

LOUIS H. BARGHAUSEN. 

